Olympic wrestling champion Razambek Zhamalov has been spotted training with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The post shows Zhamalov defending against Makhachev's takedown attempts during a training session. This highlights Makhachev's ongoing preparation and his collaboration with high-level Olympic wrestlers. The post provides limited details about the purpose or timing of the training. Such partnerships are common for elite MMA fighters seeking to sharpen their grappling skills.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, has been filmed training alongside Olympic wrestling champion Razambek Zhamalov in a session that underscores the Dagestani fighter's commitment to elite-level grappling preparation.
Footage circulating online shows Zhamalov working against Makhachev's takedown attempts, giving the champion a high-level partner to test and refine his wrestling offense. Details about when the session took place or its specific purpose were not disclosed alongside the post.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 professional record and holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw, who stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and trains out of Eagles MMA, is already one of the most decorated grapplers in the lightweight division. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while also posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent — a figure that reflects how effectively his grappling threat opens up his standup game.
Why it matters
- Makhachev regularly seeks out world-class wrestling partners, and an Olympic champion provides resistance that few training rooms can match
- Sharpening takedown entries against that level of opposition directly tests the foundation of his championship game plan
- The collaboration signals active camp preparation, though no specific opponent or timeline has been confirmed
